Officials in northwest Pakistan say a blast targeting a military convoy has killed 20 Pakistani soldiers and wounded at least 30 others.

Authorities say the explosion happened as a routine weekly convoy was preparing to leave the town of Bannu to go the restive North Waziristan tribal region, which is considered a safe haven for al-Qaida-linked militants

Army officials say the car that exploded had been rented from a local Bannu resident. The Army says it frequently hires vehicles from the local population.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. A Taliban spokesman said the group will "carry out more such attacks in the future."

In December, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in the town of Mir Ali that killed five soldiers. Afterwards, the military launched a retaliatory attack on the Taliban, killing three dozen militants.